Oh No: Poll Finds Israelis Cutting Back on Mishloach Manos

Israel’s worsening economic situation is putting a damper on the country’s Purim giving spirit. A nationwide poll of 500 participants found that 10% of Israelis who follow the tradition of distributing packages of goodies for mishloach manos on Purim intend to cut back on expenditures this year by 30% to 50% compared with last year, according to Haaretz.

The survey, conducted for the Chasdei Naomi charitable foundation, one of Israel’s largest food package distributors to the needy, indicates that 58% of the population makes it a practice to distribute Purim packages: 28% said they’re willing to spend up to NIS 50 a basket, 26% said they’ll spend between NIS 50 and NIS 100, and 26% were willing to spend over NIS 200.

Of those surveyed, 2% – mostly Yerushalayim residents – said this year will be the first time they’ll forgo giving baskets due to financial difficulties, while those who said they will bestow cheaper items live mainly in the South, states Haaretz.

I hope this is happening in all Jewish communities. Of course, I don’t want to hear that people are not doing well financially. However Mishloach Manos has gotten out of hand and we all need to cut back regardles of our finanacial position. As we all know, it’s better to give more mantonos l’evyonim if we have the money.